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Caravan – The Tiny House Hotel

Integrated into an artsy residential neighbourhood, the world’s first ‘tiny house’ hotel boasts six hand-built tiny houses around a central courtyard with fire pit. One of Portland’s most unusual and lovingly-appointed hotels, Caravan is not for the claustrophobic.

Location

9/10

Caravan is in the residential Alberta Arts District, an area known for its cafés, boutiques, yoga studios, wild Last Thursday art openings, and massive gentrification in the last 20 years. A good walking neighbourhood, you’re an inexpensive Uber ride from the airport and can take the bus downtown. Guests who arrive by car will find free street parking within a couple of blocks.

Style & character

10/10

The style is quirky, individualistic and eco-friendly. The builders have repurposed everything from old barn wood to industrial freezers, and scored many of the windows, toilets and building materials off Craigslist. There’s a communal camp feel to the complex, which is surrounded by a locked gate. Guests are friendly and united in having a tiny house adventure – much more so than at a standard chain hotel. The local couple who own Caravan provide spiral-bound books in each house so guests can read interviews with the builders and stories about the tiny houses.

Service & facilities

7/10

Caravan is a small operation and not staffed round the clock. Guests must arrange their arrival time in advance, which can be inconvenient. A staff member opens the locked front gate at the appointed time and gives a helpful tour of light switches, heating controls and how to use the stovetop espresso maker.

Facilities are limited to the tiny houses and the central courtyard, which includes firewood and supplies to make s’mores, including vegan marshmallows. If there’s a problem, guests can call or text staff 24/7 for a quick response.

Room service

Wi-Fi

Rooms

9/10

The rooms deliver as promised: the experience of spending the night in a tiny house. Floor space is limited – don’t expect to roll out your yoga mat and do sun salutations. Each house is different, ranging from tiny to tinier, but packed with features. Skyline includes a kitchen, counter with two bar stools, toilet, shower, queen-sized bed and loft living room in less space than one room in an average house. Most of the houses have the opposite set-up: living space downstairs with a ladder leading up to a sleeping loft.

The train-shaped Caboose maximises space with bunk beds. Rooms are stocked with fair trade coffee and tea. You’ll find lots of reading material on tiny house living, but no TVs or phones. The houses have their quirks – fail to close the storm door on Skyline, and you’ll have a wet floor on a rainy night, and since they are on wheels, a little wind can cause a lot of sway. While most of these houses can sleep four, you’ll feel cramped during your waking hours. Fire pit parties can get very loud.

Food & drink

Caravan supplies olive oil and dishes if you want to create a one-burner meal. Local restaurant Radio Room, located across the street, provides room service until 2am.

Value for money

9/10

Rates start at $145 (£117) for Rosebud, the tiniest house, ranging to $165 (£133) for Pacifica. Breakfast not included. Free Wi-Fi. It’s tremendously good value for the fun factor.